The 43 tonne consignment includes protective gear, medicines and diagnostic equipment to support Africa’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak…reports Africa Daily News Desk
India on Tuesday dispatched a second tranche of medical assistance to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), stepping up support for efforts to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Africa.
The 43 tonne consignment includes protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines and nutritional supplements aimed at strengthening public health preparedness and boosting Ebola response capacities across the continent.
Announcing the assistance, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the supplies were intended to help African countries tackle the evolving health emergency.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said India was confident that the latest shipment would further strengthen public health preparedness and bolster Ebola response efforts across Africa.
The latest consignment follows the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits sent by India to Africa CDC on May 24. At the time, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting African nations in responding to the emerging Ebola public health emergency.
Last week, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remained ready to continue assisting affected countries and the Africa CDC in dealing with the outbreak. He noted that the first shipment had been formally handed over by Indian High Commissioner to Uganda Upender Singh Rawat to Africa CDC officials.
The assistance has been welcomed by Africa CDC, which on May 31 expressed gratitude to India for its support in addressing the worsening Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The outbreak has raised international concern, prompting intensified efforts by regional and global health authorities to contain the spread of the disease. Ebola is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials or infected animals. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
India has expanded its health partnerships with African countries in recent years, providing medicines, vaccines and emergency medical assistance during public health crises, including the Covid 19 pandemic.
The latest shipment underscores New Delhi’s continued commitment to supporting Africa’s healthcare resilience and emergency response capabilities.
